The MONAB Story

A history of the mobile airfields of the Royal Navy



Mobile Naval Air Base No. I gallery

Images from the private collections ofSub-Lt. (P), P. Hyde, Petty Officer Radio Mechanic G. Theaker, Petty Officer Air Fitter (Airframes) L. Butt, Leading Air Fitter (Engines) G. Williams, Aircraft Artificer 4th Class (Ordnance) M. Ayling, Air Mechanic (Electrical) G. Blanchard, Slipstream magazine. Images marked © IWM are reproduced under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Most of these images are sized to fit the screen, however where possible those containing groups of personnel will open large enough to see individuals. Many, but not all, of these images are available in larger, high-res versions and copies can be supplied upon receipt of a photo request.  If you have pictures or other memorabilia that you can contribute to this project please contact the Webmaster using the Offer of assistance form.

 The Royal Navy Research Archive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 Unported License See our terms of use for conditions regarding using these images in other works.

 

 

Raising the white ensign
MONAB I commissioning at Nowra, raining the White Ensign on the Quarterdeck.
Raising the white ensign
MONAB I commissioning at Nowra, the Ship’s Company witness raining the White Ensign on the Quarterdeck.
FOANAP visit
Rear Admiral Portal, Flag Officer Naval Air Pacific during a visit to R.N.A.S. Nowra .
FOANAP visit
Rear Admiral Portal presents sporting prizes on completion of Admiral's Divisions at R.N.A.S. Nowra.
FOANAP visit3
Rear Admiral Portal presents sporting prizes on completion of Admiral’s Divisions at R.N.A.S. Nowra.
Reserve aircraft
Royal Naval Air Station Nowra looking to the South-west showing the reserve aircraft palk with lines of Corsairs and Avengers.
Reserve aircraft
View looking to the South-west between two lines of spare Avengers in the reserve aircraft park.
Warming up
An avenger squadron gets warmed up prior to departure from Nowra, once the engine is running the wings are extended and locked.
VE-Day service
May 8th 1945 - Inter-denominational service conducted by Captain H C Dickinson, DSC, RN. Disembarked squadrons and members of ships companies of HMS NABBINGTON and NABSWICK took part in the VE Day service. © IWM (A 29305A)
VE Day Brbeque
May 8th 1945 – roasting the fatted calf? A barbeque held at RNAS Nowra for disembarked squadrons and members of ships companies of HMS NABBINGTON and NABSWICK as part of the VE Day celebrations. © IWM (A 29306).
Equipment at outlying radio site
May 8th 1945 – roasting the fatted calf, part of the VE Day celebrations.
Equipment at outlying radio site
May 8th 1945 – a large bonfire lights the night sky at RNAS Nowra as part of the VE Day celebrations. © IWM (A 29307)
M.S.R. 1 fitters (1)
Air Fitters from Maintenance, Storage & Reserve (M.S.R.)1 outside the accommodation site at Nowra, May 1945.
M.S.R. 1 fitters (2)
A group of Petty Officer Air Fitters from M.S.R.1, pose with an Airspeed Oxford at Nowra, May 1945.
M.S.R. 1 fitters (3)
A group of Petty Officer Air Fitters from M.S.R.1, pose with an Airspeed Oxford at Nowra, May 1945.
M.S.R. 1 fitters (4)
Air Fitters from M.S.R.1 pose with one of their mobile workshop vehicles, May 1945.
1843 NAS senior rates
Petty Officer Air Fitter (A) Leonard Butt, a member of MSR 1 poses with one of the unit jeeps at Nowra, May 1945.
1843 NAS senior rates
The personnel of the Radio Section of Mobile Repair (M.R.)1 at Nowra.
1843 NAS senior rates
The Petty Officers of the M.R.1 Radio workshop with one of their mobile workshop vehicles..
M.R. 1 riggers and fitters
Riggers and Fitters of  M.R. 1 at R.N.A.S Nowra in 1945..
1843 NAS AA4(O)s (1)
Aircraft Artificers (Ordnance) C. H. Allen, E. Bates, and R. Thomas (kneeling) of 1843 squadron pose in front of the squadron’s Corsairs at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
AA4 (O) Maurice Ayling of 1843 squadron.
AA4 (O) Maurice Ayling of 1843 squadron pose in the cockpit of a Corsair parked at RNAS Nowra with its wings folded, in the late summer of 1945."
1843 NAS AA4(O)s (2)
Aircraft Artificers (Ordnance) H.W. Ellis, C. H. Allen, S.J. James of 1843 squadron pose on a Corsair at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
1843 NAS AA4(O)s (2)
Aircraft Artificers (Ordnance) H.W. Ellis, C. H. Allen, S.J. James of 1843 squadron at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
1843 NAS Am(O)s (1)
Aircraft Mechanics (Ordnance) ´Tug´ Wilson, ´Spike´ Spicer, and ´Jerry´Rose of 1843 squadron at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
AM (O) ,Tug , Wilson of 1843 squadron.
AM (O) ,Tug , Wilson of 1843 squadron pose in the cockpit of a Corsair at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
1843 NAS senior rates
Some of 1843 squadron Senior ratings pose outside the squadron office at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
The Naval Dance Band
Petty Officer Radio Mechanic Gordon Theaker of M.R. 1 (second from right) and the other members of the Naval Dance Band.
Aircraft of 1845 squadron (1)
Corsair 139 of 1845 squadron photographed from the starboard quarter parked at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
Aircraft of 1845 squadron (2)
Corsair 139 photographed head on and other aircraft of 1845 squadron parked at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
Group of 1845 squadron (1)
A group of 1845 squadron Air Mechanics (Electrical) photographed with one of the squadron’s Corsairs at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
Group of 1845 squadron (2)
A group of maintenance personnel of 1845 squadron at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
Group of 1845 squadron 32)
A group of maintenance personnel of 1845 squadron at RNAS Nowra in the late summer of 1945.
Victory over Japan announced (1)
August 15th 1945, V-J Day: Captain Harvey addresses the ship’s company to announce the Japanese surrender.
Victory over Japan announced (2)
August 15th 1945, V-J Day: Captain Harvey addresses the ship’s company to announce the Japanese surrender.
Victory over Japan announced (3)
August 15th 1945, V-J Day: The Chaplin leads the ship’s company in prayers of thanks at the news of the war’s end.
Victory parade (1)
Victory Parade through the streets of Nowra, August 17th 1945: The Royal Matinee Band followed by Cdr F. C. Goodenough RN (left), and Cdr W. F. R. Segrave DSC, RN (right) lead the parade of the Ship’s companies of NABBINGTON and NABSWICK at it passes the Nowra Uniting Church in Berry Street, turning into Junction street.
Victory parade (2)
Victory Parade through the streets of Nowra, August 17th 1945: The officers of HM Ships NABBING TON and NABSWICK march into Junction street. Third Officer Janet Parkinson WRNS, the only female member of NABBING TON’s ships company, is in the front rank.
Victory parade (3)
Victory Parade through the streets of Nowra, August 17th 1945: Senior rates of HMS Ships NABBING TON and NABSWICK wheel into Junction street.
Victory parade (4)
Victory Parade through the streets of Nowra, August 17th 1945: Senior rates of HMS Ships NABBING TON and NABSWICK continue to wheel into Junction street.
Victory parade (5)
Victory Parade through the streets of Nowra, August 17th 1945: Junior rates of HMS Ships NABBING TON and NABSWICK wheel into Junction street.
Victory parade (6)
Victory Parade through the streets of Nowra, August 17th 1945: Junior rates of HMS Ships NABBING TON and NABSWICK marching along Junction street.
723 Squadron airvrew late 1945
The aircrew of 723 FRU at Nowra c.1945. identified officers are - Left to right, in front: Observer H. G. "Peanut" Huckle*; Pilot Ivan Sweeney*; C.O. Lt. H. A. P. Bullivant*; Pilot Charles Birch*; Lt. Jack Jones (stood back); Sub-Lt. Peter Hyde. Image courtesy Peter Hyde Additional names from Charles Birch. *=wearing battledress

 

 

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Topic: HMS Nabbington Gallery
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Rowan Birch
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Jul 2015
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Rowan Birch (Richmond) says...

Re 723 squadron image - my father is in this photo. He identified Observer "Peanut" Huckle, first left. Pilot Ivan Sweeney, second from left, c/o H.A.P. Bullivant 3rd left, Pilot Les Derby 6th from left, Pilot Charles Birch 4th from right.

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